Foree bain



(No Model.)

P. BAIN.

REGULATOR OR RHEOSTAT. No. 427,032. Patented May 6, 1890.

qxfi bwaooeo Svwemcoz amrg im UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

FOREE BAIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ()NEJIALF TO CHARLES B.ASKEIV, OF SAME PLACE.

REGULATOR OR RH EOSTAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,032, dated May 6,1890.

Application filed January 21, 1890. Serial No. 337,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: In the drawing, A represents a box made ofBe it known that I, FOREE BAIN, a citizen any suitable material, (shownas having an of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook extendedtop 13,) upon which are mounted the county, State of Illinois, haveinvented certerminals of the electric circuit C one of 5 tain new anduseful Improvements in Reguwhich is connected to an ordinary switch Dlators or Rheostats, of which the following is and the othertoacontact-plate E. The switch a specification. is adapted to move overand rest in contact My invention relates to a regulator or rheowith anyone or more of a series of contactstat; and it has for its object toprovide a pieces E E 50., to which the terminals of 1o rheostat whichshall be simple and compact the resisting medium Fare connected. Thisand at the same time capable of carrying a resisting medium may be ofany usual mateheavy current without danger; and to these rial-such asfine metal wire, carbon, or the ends my invention consists in aregulator or like-and may be arranged in any desired rheostatconstructed substantially as hereinform, so as to carry the resistanceof the elec- I5 after set forth. trio current flowing through thecircuit C C In the accompanyingdrawingI have shown and through one ormore of the coils or seea longitudinal section of a rheostat embodytionsof the resisting medium. In the presing my invention. ent instance Ihave shown. this medium as 111 the use of electric currents, especiallycomposedotanumberof coils of metal mount- 20 where it is desired ornecessary to use eomed in a frame G, which is adapted to [it intoparatively high-tension currents, it is often the box or case A, andthere may be one or necessary to use a regulator or rheostat in more ofsaid frames, according to the necessiorder to control and regulate thecurrent in ties of the case. When in use this box conthe translatingdevices, which maybe lamps, tains a liquid II, which preferablycompletely 25 motors, or other well-known devices. Espesubmerges thecoils or sections of the resist-- cially is it desirable to use suchrheostats in ing medium, and this liquid may consist of the lighting oftheaters, forinstauce, or in the water, oil, or other fluid, theessential requiworking of mines or other places where space site beingthat it shall be a non-inflammable is an element and it is necessary toeconofluid and capable of carrying off or absorbo mize in this regard;and one of the special obing the heat generated in the resistancemejects of my invention is to provide a rheostat dium. which can be usedunder such circumstances, I have found from actual use that a resist andwhich will occupy little space and still ance medium of, say, No. 20iron wire subbe capable of carrying a heavy current withmerged in a vatcontaining water is capable of 8 5 35 out danger of destruction of therheostat or carrying foran unlimited timeacurrent of one of creatingafire and destroying the surroundhundred and fifteen amperes, and while,of ing material. Many devices havebeen made course, the water decreasesthe resistance of having this general idea; but I have found thecoilsIhave found that this decrease is very from actual experimentthatthe device I am smalhbeing practically not over two per cent, 40 aboutto describe is thoroughly practical and while the carrying capacity ofthe resistance cii'icient for the purposes desired. medium is increasedmany times, as it is well In carrying out my invention I make use ofknown that a wire of this character exposed to some conductor preferablyhaving a high retheair will melt under the influence of a cursistance tothe passage of electric currents rent of averysmallnumberof amperes. The5 4 5 to form the coils or sections of the rheostat, water or otherliquid carries oil or absorbs the and I immerse these coils insomeliquid which heat that is generated. by the passage of the shallhave the capacity of carrying off the current and prevents the fusion ofthe wire heat due to thepassage of the currenttln'ough and itsconsequent destruction. Moreover, the resisting medium and at the sametime in case the resistance should become over- I00 50 that will notmaterially reduce the electrical heated the lluid prevents the liabilityof setresistance. ting [ire to the surrounding materials. In

this way I am enabled to provide a regulator or rheostat which isextremely compact and safe and capable of use in many places where theordinary resistance devices could not be conveniently used, and, asbefore stated, the carrying capacity of the resistance medium isincreased in a very large proportion by the addition of the fluid,whileits resistance qualities are reduced in a very small percentage.Moreover, the resistance medium is uniform and practically stationary,as it cannot increase in temperature beyond the boilingpoint of theliquid in which it is submerged.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A regulator or rheostat consisting of an electric conductor offeringa high resistance to the passage of the electric current immersed in aheat-conducting liquid which is practicallya non-electric conductor,substantially as described.

2. A regulator or rheostat consisting of a vessel containing a heat-conducting liquid which is practically a non-electric conductor, anelectric conductor which offers a high resistance to the passage of theelectric current immersed in said liquid, and electric connections forsaid electric conductor mounted on the case, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FoREE' BAIN.

Witnesses:

M. F. ALLEN, L. E. JoNEs.

